In response to an Associated Press article on Gaza’s culinary traditions published in the Montreal Gazette, some readers such as Gazette letter-writer Jack Berkowicz, felt that the culinary landscape was mined with too many political references. See his letter below:

Re: “Gaza’s hidden gourmet treasures” (Weekend Life, April 6)

I am somewhat mystified by an that appeared in the Weekend Life section that purportedly reviews a cookbook on Gazan cooking.

I would assume that reviews of cookbooks should be apolitical. This article by The Associated Press seems to be anything but apolitical. Israel is mentioned approximately nine times with negative-biased questionable connotations. Such words and phrases such as blockade, border restriction, war over Israel’s creation, refugees uprooted, restrictions of farmers and fisherman and others are prominently featured.

The question I have is: Is this an article reviewing a cookbook, or is this an article about the Arab-Israeli conflict that was mistakenly placed in the Weekend Life Section? Perhaps it is the opening of a new front among the many that Israel faces daily from missiles to nuclear threats to boycotts of everything from academics to ladies’ shoes.

Jack Berkowicz